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A charity has come to the rescue of a retired police dog who served with distinction in Surrey and Sussex, funding emergency surgery to save her life.

Belgian Malinois Fiji spent six years working with the Surrey and Sussex Joint Dog Unit, earning a commendation for saving the life of a high-risk missing person. After being injured on duty, Fiji was retired and kept by her handler, Claire Bird.

However, at the age of 12, Fiji’s health took a sudden turn for the worse. Claire noticed that Fiji was unwell after eating leftover roast lamb and rushed her to the vet. Emergency surgery revealed that Fiji’s spleen needed to be removed, leaving Claire “terrified” for her beloved pet’s life.

Fortunately, Fiji pulled through the surgery, thanks in part to the timely intervention of the Thin Blue Paw Foundation. The national dog welfare charity, which supports serving and retired police dogs across the UK, covered the £4,300 bill for Fiji’s surgery.

This is not the first time the Thin Blue Paw Foundation has come to Fiji’s aid. Over the years, the charity has provided almost £10,000 worth of support, including funding a monthly £300 injection to manage a skin issue. In October 2023, the foundation also helped Fiji recover from a serious bacterial infection.

Claire expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation and its donors, saying, “I’m so incredibly thankful for helping to save Fiji’s life. I feel so lucky to have been paired with Fiji, and I’m grateful for the foundation’s ongoing support.” Fiji is now recovering at home, thanks to the charity’s lifesaving intervention.

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